Packaging apparatus



Oct. 6, 1959 a. TOLES 2,90

PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 25, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet All. surrw n I o Buzz-01v 7045s BYE-a! w Arraaw 5 Oct. 6, 1959 Filed Nov. 25, 1958 B. TOLES PACKAGING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN] OR. 302 raw 7248:

MW/(LAW I Ariana/2r:

Oct. 6, 1959 a. TOLES 2,907,153

PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 25, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIE. 4

INVENTOR. B0: 701V 7'0 2:

lrramv Oct. 6, 1959- a. TOLES PACKAGING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov'. 25, 1958 M N HN E INVENTOR. Bolero/v 7046s BY Q Oct. 6, 1959 B. TOLES 2,907,153

PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 25, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet e \i if FIG! .25

10A 2 M M m N 3 u m S: g m;

BY I

Un d iat s atsfl PACKAGING APPARATUS liurtonToles, Minneapolis, Minn. Application November 25,- 19ss, Serial'No. 776,367-

8 Claims. ((31.53-55) This--invention'- relates to a packaging device. Applicants-device may have various applications. In the embodirnent of the invention here-illustrated,- applicants- It is an object of this invention therefore'to provide a device for substantially automatically baling a plurality of bags of material into' a single container and sealing said.container,.which operation formerly was generally a completely manual operationi It is: desirable; to have such a device in which the operator need only commence the operationth'ereof,

manually with the remaining operation of said" device being automatic to accomplish a result which generally has been the result of a completelymanual operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device for balinga plurality of bags of material into a single container wherein said bags and container in being moved from one step to another in the operation of said device engage and actuate means for the operation ofsucceeding steps.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device adapted to place a plurality of bags of material into-a single container and having means for directly ln' ging'said bags into said container.

It is afurther object of thisinvention to provide a deviceadaptedto receive a container in open conditionandto close and seal saidcontainer, said device adapted to have; substantially all its various parts used for the closing and sealing. of said container actuated by the movement ofsaid container;

It is a-more specific object of thisinvention to provide adevice adapted to receive a plurality of'bags of material in continuous order, said' device having in connection therewith acontainer in position to receive therein a certain number of said bags, said container having an upstanding end-portion, means for'automatically placing said certain: number of said bags into said container,

the receipt'of said bags into said container moving said container to actuate means'for moving said. container andbags therein into a position to have its open end folded intoclosed position,-saidfolding means positioning said container to have a portion of its open end folded, said second means actuating a sealing means, means for applying: resilient pressure to said sealed end, and means for moving said container to unloading position.

These and other. objects and advantages of the inventionwill be fully set forth in the following description made inconnection with the accompanying drawings in. which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of applicants device;

2,907,153 Patented 0a. 6, 1959 "ice Fig. 2 is a view of applicants device in side elevationshowing some portions in dotted line;

showing some parts thereof in dotted line;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation;

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section taken on line 5 -5 of Fig. 4 as indicated by the arrows; I I

-Fig. 6 is a partial view in vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5 as indicated'by thearrows;

Fig. 7 is a view on an enlarged scale partially in topplan and partially in horizontal section taken on line 77 of Fig. 4 as indicated by the parts thereof shown in dotted'line;

Fig; 8 is a view in vertical' section on an enlarged scale taken on line 8 '--8'of' Fig. 4 as indicated by the arrows; I V

Fig. 9 is a view invertical section on an enlargedscale taken on line 9'9 of Fig. 4 as indicated by -the arrows;

Fig. 10: is a view on an enlarged scale in vertical section taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 4 as indicated by: the arrows; a

Fig. 11 is a partial View on an enlarged? scale in horizontal section taken on line 11-11015 Fig. 2 asindicated: by the arrows, with some parts thereof shown in dott'e line; and

Fig. 12 is a schematic view on an enlarged-scale show ing a linediagram of the hydraulic system used in-a portion ofthe apparatus. 7 j

With reference to the drawings, and .parti'cularly'tox Figs. 1-4, applicants structure as here'illustrated cornprises a baling and a sealing mechanism to carry out operation. The balingmeclianism is generally indicated by the character '10.

Said baling mechanism ltl'cornprises a'belt housing 1 2. Said belt housing 12 is here shown to be. substantially. parallelepiped in form having atop plate 13 forming at loading platform having longitudinally spaced' transverse slots 15 and 16'therein and having removable end plates 17 and 18.. Said slot 16: is spaced inwardly for some distance from the adjacent end of said housing. Theinner end portion of said platform 13 forms a loading. platform 13a.

Mounted ateither outer side of said housing 12 ad jacent the'rear upper end thereof are adjustable bearing: blocks 26 having their adjusting screws 21 anchoredtoan end plate 22. Said end plate-22 is positioned above said end plate 17. Journaled in said bearing blocksv 20 adjacent said slot 15 is a conveyor roller 23. Said housing will have slots therein to provide for longitudinal: adjustment of said bearing blocks 20 and roller 23-. At the other or forward end of saidhousing 12 is an up- Fig. 3 is a view of applicants device in end elevation standing plate member. 26 substantially greater in-length.

than the width of said housing. Said housing'12 extends through said plate member 26 and the extended end of said housing is overlaidby said end plate' 20. Said? plate member 26 has sides 27 and 28 extending. outwardly. at right angles thereto.

Carried at either side of said plate member 26 adjacent the bottom thereof are bearing. blocks 30 having jour-' naled therebetween a shaft 35 carrying a conveyor roller 31 thereon disposed in the end portion of said housing,

12. Passing over said rollers 23 and 31' is an endless conveyor belt 32. Said belt as here indicated willpass upwardly through said slot 15 across the upper surface of said housing 12 and downwardly through said slot. 16. Upstanding from said housing 12 along either side thereof are side walls 33 and 34 having outwardly right-- angled flanged upper end portions. I

Said upstanding plate member 26 forms an end wall upstanding from said housing and being spaced for some distance from the adjacent ends of said side walls 33-and' arrows, with some 34 and extending for some distance to one side of said housing, A plate member 38 is secured to the inner end of said plate member 26 and to the adjacent side portion of said housing 12 and extending at right angles thereto and being parallel to said end plate 26. Extending between said plate member 38 and said end plate 26 at right angles thereto is a plate member 40. Said plate member extends downwardly to be level with the top surface of said housing 12 and is positioned somewhat inwardly of the outer ends of said plate member 38 and end plate 26. Secured to the bottom of said plate member 40 and extending between said plate member 38 and said end plate 26 is a substantially U- shaped housing 43 positioned on one side thereof having its open side facing a similar opening in the facing side portion of said housing 12.

Journaled betweenpsaid plates 38 and 26 transversely thereof and in parallel relation at the adjacent inner sides of said housings 43 and 12 are rollers 45 and 46. Said rollers are journaled at one end in bearing brackets carried inplate 38 and not here illustrated, and at their other ends are journaled in gear boxes 48 and 49 carried at the outer side of said end plate 26, as indicated in Fig. 3. Said rollers 45 and 46 will be so spaced and will be provided with suitable surfaces so that they will be adapted to frictionallyor grippingly engage bags 50 therebetween, as indicated in Fig. 1.

Carried along the top of said plate member 26 and extending outwardly to the right thereof for a short distance, as indicated in Fig. 3, is a rectangular frame member 52 having a longitudinally extending slot 53 therein. Disposed between the forward end of side wall 34 and said end plate 26 is an upstanding rightangled plate member 55 forming a bag pusher and is carried and slidable in said slot 53 by a supporting arm 56. Said plate member 55 is positioned as indicated in Fig. 1, and is movable along said frame member 52- to pass over the adjacent end portion of said belt 32, and in its extreme inward position to extend to a position over a point between saidrollers 45 and 46. As the face of said member 55 moves inwardly, its right-angled side portion moves across said belt 32 to block the further passage of any bags therealong. Secured to said arm 56 is a strap member 58 forming a guiding bracket having a portion extending forwardly parallel to said plate member 52 for some distance and having an arm extending inwardly at right angles to be parallel to the facing portion of said plate member 55 and having an end portion bent at a somewhat outwardly inclined angle.

Mounted on the rear face 29 of said end plate 26 is an electric motor having a driveshaft 66 extending upwardly therefrom and having a pulley 67 secured to the outer end of said driveshaft. Said motor will be connected to a source of power. Also mounted on said plate 26 to the right of said motor 65, as seen in Fig. 3, is a reduction gear box 70 having a shaft 71 extending upwardly therefrom and carrying a pulley 72 thereon with an endless belt 75 passing over said pulleys 67 and 72. Extending outwardly to the right of said gear box 70 is a shaft 77 having a sprocket 78 secured thereto. Carried on shaft 35 in vertical alignment with said sprocket 28 is a sprocket 80. Passing over said sprockets 78 and 80 is an endless chain 82.

Bearings are mounted at either side of said housing '12 at the rear end portion thereof, through which bearings-is journaled said shaft 35 for additional support. Asindicated in Fig. 3, said shaft 35 also extends through gear boxes 48 and 49, and by conventional gearing therein is drivingly connected to said rollers 45 and 46.

Mounted on said frame member 52 longitudinally thereof is a hydraulic cylinder having a piston 92 extending to the right thereof, as seen in Fig. 3 Said cylinder 90 is adapted to be operated by air under pressure. Secured to the outer ends of said piston is a grooved carrier 93 mounted on said frame member 52 to be least 60 psi. line pressure.

movable in slot 53. Said arm 56 is secured to said carrier 93.

Applicants air system as here disclosed for operating his baling mechanism is commonly known as a closed or constant pressure system.

Air lines 95 and 96 respectively connect the ends of said cylinder 90 to an air valve 98. Said air valve is a manifold type. Said valve 98'will be connected to a source of air under pressure through the main air line 100. In the embodiment of the invention here disclosed it is desirable to have said air valve 98 connected to a source of air under pressure capable of supplying at Also in connection with the air pressure system of applicants device is an air supply tank 104.

Mounted on the rear side 29 of said end plate 26 and extending therethrough is a switch 102 actuated by a pressure responsive switch plate 103 on the front side of saidplate 26, as indicated in Fig. 1. Said switch 102 is connected to said air valve 98 by an air line 105 and is adapted to bleed awayrair under pressure to said cylinder 90 through air line 96 to permit the air pressure 7 in line 95 to retract said piston 92. A pressure reswitch panel 107, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 7. Switch 108 connected to air line 109 communicates with said valve 102 and maintains constant pressure at one side of said valve to prevent said switch 106 from operating valve 102 unless said switch 108 is depressed to bleed line 109. Thus there is a positive control over the commencement of the operation of the baling mechanism.

Mounted in said plate members 38 and 26 just below said rollers 45 and 46 is a bag or container holding member 112. Said holding member 112 comprises a pair of spaced parallel bars 113 and 114 respectively in substantially vertical alignment with said rollers 45 and 46. Said bars are respectively secured in brackets 115 mounted in said plate members adjacent the bottoms thereof. Carried on said bars 113 and 114 are members 116, 117,118 and 119 commonly referred to as duck bills and here formed arc-shaped in horizontal section and having tapered depending portions. Said duck bills have horizontal bores through one side thereof to be mounted on said bars 113 and 114, as shown in Fig, 11. Said duck bills respectively have rearwardly horizontally extending plate-like portions 116a, 117a, 118a and 119a, and centrally of each of said plate-like portions and upstanding therefrom are apertured lugs 116b, 117b, 11% and 11% respectively. Bolts 128 having threaded ends are'respectively disposed through lugs 116b-117b and 118b119b and are held in position by nuts 129. Thus members 116-117 and 118119 are respectively held in position to form two pairs of integral split duck bill units. Said members 116 and 117 are respectively secured in position on said bars 113 and 114 by set screws 132. Collars and 136 are respectively adjustably secured to said bars 113 and 114 by set screws 135a and 136a. Coiled springs 138 and 139 are respectively disposed on said bars 113 and 114 with each of said springs at one end bearing against said collars 135 and 136 and at the other end bearing against the adjacent ends of said duck bills 118 and 119. Mounted on said plate member 26 by a bracket 140 is a hydraulic cylinder 142 having a piston 143 connected to said members 118 and 119 centrally thereof by a bracket 145. Connected to said cylinder 142 at one end is an air line 147. Said air line 147 through T coupling 148 communicates with air line 149 connected to air supply tank 104. A, valve 151 is carried in said end plate 26 adapted to be actuated by a plunger 152- carried on said duck bill 119. Said valve- 151 communicates with said supply tank 104 by an air line 159 and with the main air supply line 100 by an air line 158. Back air pressure from said cylinder 142 passes through air line 153 to a control switch 154 in said foot switchpanel 106. An air line 159 connects said switch 154 to said air supply tank 104.

Supporting said housing 12 and end plate 26 are standards- 162 and: 163 shown here as being substantially inverted U-shaped in form having leveling terminal leg portions 162a and 163a respectively formed as screw jacks. Said standards are respectively secured at their closed upper ends to said end plates 17 and 18 in a suitable m'anner. Referring to Fig. 2,. there is indicated for illustrative purposes only a fragmentary portion of a conveyor 165 leading onto said belt 32 and said loading platform 13. Indicated on said conveyor 165 are bags 50.

*Operationally associated with said baling or bagging mechanism 10 is a folding and sealing mechanism indicated generally by the character 175.

Said folding and sealing mechanism here shown comprises a substantially T-slraped base housing rectangular in cross section and having a body portion 177 and a crosswise disposed head portion 179. Said body portion 177 comprises an end plate 181, a top 182, sides 183 and 184 and a bottom 185. Said head portion 179 comprises ends 187 and 188, sides 189' and 190, a top 191 and a bottom 192.

Overlying and spaced above said body portion 177 is an inverted U-shaped' channel housing 195 having an outer end plate 196, a top 197 and sides 198 and 199. Said sides have inwardly turned flanges 198a and 199a. Standards 200 at either end of said housings 195 and 177 are respectively welded to said housings to hold the same in spaced relation. Overlying one end portion of said housing 195 and extending therebeyond for some distance is a housing 200 having a removable top-201, ends 202 and 203, and sides 204 and 205. Said housing 200 will be secured to said housing 195, as by welding. Spaced longitudinally of said housing 200 are pairs of collars 207 and 208. Said collars are each inverted L-shaped members being respectively bolted at their upper ends to said sides'204 and 205 and having their depending sides secured as by welding to said sides 198 and 199. Threaded through the bottom portion of each of said' collars in a direction towards said housing 195 are horizontal adjusting screws 212 with each of said screws being identical in form and function. Said screws have their inner end portions rotatably disposed in blocks 214. Secured to opposite pairs of said blocks and carried thereby are vertically disposed guidemembers 217 and 218 here formed of elongated plate members having outwardly turned longitudinally extending flanges along their upper and lower sides. With reference to Fig. 7, said guide members 217 and 218 have outwardly extending flap end portions 217a and 218a inclined somewhat away from one another to form an enlarged opening. Each of said screws 212 will have secured thereto a sprocket 213 respectively adjacent said blocks 214 and pairs of said sprockets at either side of said housing 195 will be connected by endless chains 222 for uniform rotation of each pair of said screws 212 at either side of said housing 195. It is thus seen that by rotation of said screws 212 said guide plates 217 'and218 are uniformly moved toward and away from one anotherr Mounted in a motor housing 219 at one side of said housing 177 adjacent the rear or left-hand thereof; as seenin Figs. 1 and 2,. is an electric motor 220 connected to a source of power and having a driveshaft 221 connected to a gear box 223 with said gear box having a stub shaft extending at one side thereof carrying a sprocket 225-. Journaled in said housing 177 adjacent said gear box 223 in bearings 226' is a roller 227 having mounted at one side thereof a sprocket 228 in alignment with said sprocketu225 and having arch in; H r s ng: over said sprockets;- Mounted forwardlyfor some; dis tance insaid housing 177, as'indicatedin Fig. 2,;is:a roller 232 journaled inadjustable bearing brackets 234. :Pass ing over said rollers 227 and 232 is an endless belt 240. Theupper run of said belt overlies said-housing 1:77 and; forms a-movable upper surface thereon. Carried at the rear endof said housing is a manually'operated con:-, trol valve 242 controlling the switch.215 to said motor 220 by air lines 243'and 244, as indicated in Figs. 4and 12. Said motor will be provided with: aswitch not here described which will be adapted to be actuated by air pressure and which is of aknown:construction Mounted on said housing 177 at a point adjacent-said roller 2321s a spring released control valve 246wnormally open con nected by air lines 243 and 248 toswitch 215 of .sa id motor 220. Said cont'rolvalve 246 and said controlvalve 242-- are each adapted to control the operation of-said motor 220, the former intermittently and the latter'being amanual control. a 9;

Journaled in said upper housing.195adjacentthe1'ear end thereof in bearing brackets 255 is a roller 256.- A; gear box.254- is connected to one ofsaid bearing brackets having the gearing therein connected to the shaft of said roller.256 in a well known manner. Connecting thegearing in said gearboxes and 254- is a shaft 257.; Thus saidroller 256-will be drivenby saidmotor 220 Spaced forwardly for some distance in said housing'175, asindicated in Fig. 2, is a second roller 258 jounnaled in adjustable bearing brackets 259, and passing over said rollers 2 56 and 258 is an endless belt 260. Mounted insaid housing 175 extending longitudinally of'said belt- 260 and substantially coextensive therewith and spaced ateither side thereof are a pair of roller retainers 262-formed as plate members having longitudinally spaced upwardly ex-' tending open bottom slots 262a and having weighted rollers 2 65 disposed in opposite pairsofsaid slots: transversely of said belt and being positioned above the upper surface of the lower run of said belt 260. Said retainers 262 will be secured respectively to the sides of said housing 175 and said weighted rollers 265 will besupported-by said inwardly turned flanges198a and- 199a, as indicated in Fig. 5.

Carried on the outer side 198" of said=housing-. is an air line 270 which will be connected to a source of air under pressure and preferably to a. source providing 80 p.s.i. air line pressure. The air pressure system: in the sealing mechanism is anopen system and requires the application of air pressure to actuate valves in contrast to the system in the baling mechanism requiringa line to be bled to actuate a valve. Said line'270'isfirst connected to a filter 272 and then to anair gauge 2 73,. an'oilbath receptacle 274, a T coupling 275- and a second air gauge 276. Said air gauge 276 is connectedto a glue pot 287. A conduit 289 for passage of glue connects said glue pot 2-87 to a glue spray gun 290. Said glue pot is under constant air pressure and constant air pressure is alsofed to the spray gun. Air lines 292 and 293 also are connected to said spray gunwith'said line293 communicating With a release valve in said spray gun, which release valve is responsive to air pressure to open said gun for'the passage of air under pressure therethrough from said line 292' to pick up and atomize glue from said conduit-289i Said spray gun 290 is adjustably carried on arod 300, which rod is disposed through an aperturedlug 301 on said spray gun and said rod is disposed through saidside 198 and is secured thereto by lock nuts 302: Said spray gun extends through an opening 198a in saidside 198: Oppositely of said spray gun is hung aspray shield 304;

Mounted in generally horizontal positions in said housing 195 are a pair of plow type flap folding members 307 and 308 each being secured along one side tothe upper adjacent flange of said guide member 218; The forward edge of said folding member 307 which is curved upwardl'y and is somewhat forward of said spray gun 290 7 and a' like forward'edge of said folding member 208 is just beyond said spray gun 290, as indicated in Fig. 7'. Forward of said member 307 and adjacent the receiving end of said guide members 217 and 218 is a ski type folding member 310 secured to said housing 195 by depending resilient brackets 311. Said folding members 307, 308 and 310 are at a height to engage and fold down the flapportion of said container 150 passing'thereby.

Mounted at one side of said housing 200 at a point approximately in vertical alignment with the inner side of saidhousing 179 is a control valve 315 spring held in closed position and connected to said spray gun 290 by an air line 294 through air lines 292 and 293. Said valve 315' is connected to said T coupling 275 through an air line 295, and through said T coupling will be connected to a main line-of air pressure. Said valve 3l5 -has' a handle 315a adapted to be urged against spring pressure to permit the passage of air under pressure from amain air line 338 into said airline 294.

Disposed in said housing 200 is ahydraulic cylinder 320 having a piston 321 with said piston being shown in extended position in-Fig. 8. The portion of said housing 200 extending beyond said housing 195 has a pair of longitudinally extending spaced slots 206. A bracket 323 extending transversely of said housing 200 and overlying said slot 206 is secured to and carried by the free end of said piston 321. Said bracket 323 has portions depending through said slots 206 which are secured to the upper portion of a pusher member 326 depending therefrom. Said pusher 326 is here shown formed as a U-shaped member having its open side extending rearwardly and having its sides 327 and 328-tapered downwardly.

' Secured to the face 329 of said pusher 326 is a rightangled member 330 having a portion extending forwardly horizontally in substantially the plane of said folding members 307, 308 and 310. Adjustably carried on said side 327, as indicated in Fig. 4, is an arm 330 adapted toengage said valve arm 315a when said pusher 326 is moved forwardly.

Valves 332 and 333 are mounted in said housing 200 at one side thereof engageable by said bracket 323 respectively when said bracket is either at the extended or retracted end position of said piston 321. The operation of said' valves 332 and 333 will hereinafter be explained. A control valve 336 is disposed in said housing 200 having main air supply lines 338 and 340 connected thereto. Said cylinder 320 is actuated by air lines 342 and 343.

Mounted in said housing 179 longitudinally thereof is a'hydraulic cylinder 376 having a piston 377. Said cylinder is actuated by air lines 378 and 379. The top 191 of said housing 179 has a slot 380 extending centrally longitudinally thereof. Carried on said top 191 spaced over said slot 380 is an upstanding plate member 382 forming a pusher secured to the free end of said piston 377 by a bracket 385 whereby said piston moves said pusher longitudinally of said housing 179. Said pusher 382 is here shown having a recessed rear side having a reinforcing cross rib structure formed thereon.

Secured in any suitable manner on said top 191 in alignment with the guide member 218 remote from said pusher 382 is a stationarybackstop member 386 platelike in form and held secured by a pair of spaced L-shaped brackets 387. I

Secured on said side 191, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 12, is an air switch 389 having an air line 390 extending thereto. Mounted in the face of said stop member 386 is an air switch 394 having an air line 396 leading thereto. The area about said switch 389 on said surface 191 is indicated as being a container receiving platform 191a.

In operation, two containers 150 are shown prelimi narily placed in position between guide plates 117 and 118 as indicated in Fig. 2. A conveyor 165 will be utilized for moving bagsSO onto the housing 12 and the belt 32 'to the loading platform 13a formed at the inner end portion of said housing 12.

In the embodiment of the invention here presented, said loading platform portion is adapted for the packaging of two bags ata time whereby each-alternate bag presses the one thereinfront against valve 103 to actuate the hydraulic cylinder to retract its piston 92 to move the pusher 55 by means of arm 56 acrosssaid loading platform portion 13a to move pairs of said bags 50 over to a position above said rollers 45 and 46. Said bags will be positively engaged by said rollers and urged downwardly into said container releasingly held by said container holding member 112. Said bags 50 in be-' ing positioned above said rollers 45 and 46 engage said valve 106 which is adapted to actuate said hydraulicc'ylinder 90 to extend its piston 92 and return said pusher 55 to itsreturn position. Just prior to the pressure of bags 50 against valve 103, the valve 108 will be depressed to provide communication between a source of air pressure and the hydraulic system of lapplicants apparatus.

The bags 50 will be urged into said container 150 with some pressure, and said container in response to this pressure will drop to the receiving platform portion 191a of the lower cross housing 179. Said container will actuate switch 389 which is connected to the hydraulic cylinder 376 causing it to retract its piston 377 and move pusher 38a longitudinally of said housing 179 and moving said container 150 to a position in alignment with said' guide members 217 and 218. At this point said container 150 engages valve 394 mounted on stop member 386. Said valve actuates the hydraulic cylinder 320 tov retract its piston 321 from which there depends a pusher 326 which engages said container 150 to move it crosswise of said housing 179 and between said guide members 217 and 218. When said piston 321 is retracted it aotu-ates valve 332 which is connected to said cylinder 376 causing it to return its piston 377 to its extended or return position. When said piston 321 is fully retracted it actuates valve 333 which causes said cylinder 320 to return its piston 321 to extended position and move said pusher 326 to its starting position. When said container 150 is moved crosswise of said housing 179 it will engage the first containers 150 preliminarily positioned between said guides 117 and 118 and will move said containers forwardly. Said pusher 326 has mounted thereon a folding member 330 which engages the end flap portion adjacent thereto of said container 150 and folds said flap portion inwardly and downwardly at the time that said pusher 326 moves said container'150. An adjustable arm 331 is carried on said pusher 326, and in moving crosswise said arm engages the arm 315a of valve 315 which is connected to the spray gun 290 whereby adhesive will be applied to the first of the containers preliminarily positioned. Said adhesive will be applied only for the length of time that said arm 315a is engaged by the arm 331. This interval of time is easily regulated by the adjustment of arm 331. Hence it is seen that said containers 150 move one another forwardly from the position to which they are moved by said pusher 326.

An end holding member 310 is mounted at the entryway between said guides 217 and 218 for folding the remaining end flap of said container 150. Said container then engages flap folding member 307 which folds one side of the flap portion of said container 150. Said container 150 is next moved to a point in front of the spray gun 290 in which position the remaining upstanding flap portion of said container will be sprayed with an adhesive. At this point said container 150 engages a valve 246 which has an outwardly extending operating arm and said valve is connected to said motor 220 for operating said conveyor belt 240. Thus said belt is moved forward intermittently as said containers 150 are moved past valve 246. As said container 150 engages said valve 246 it is in turn engaged by the flap folding member 308 which folds downwardly the flap having adhesive applied thereto. Said container 150 will be moved for- 9 wardly ashort distance on said belt 240 and its top surface will be simultaneously engaged by the lower run of said upper conveyor 260. The lower run of said upper container is weighted by the weighted rollers 265 which will apply continuous pressure to the-upper surface of the container until the container is unloaded at the end of said belt 240. In being moved forwardly intermittently there is ample time for the adhesive todry.

The operation of packaging bags into a container as described above is a continuous operation, and it is seen that as the bags and the container are moved in their successive steps in. said operation that they respectively engage pressure responsive valves which operate the apparatus. Thus subsequent to the manual operation of said valve 108 the entire operation of applicants device is an automatic one with said operation being continued by the movement of goods through the apparatus.

There is one manual operation in connection with the above apparatus. The containers 150 are manually attached to the container holding member-112. When the bags 50 areloaded into said container 150 and cause saidcontainer to drop to the receiving platform therebelow, the duck bills l-IS and 119 with the release of said container are extended somewhat under the pressure of springs 133 and 139; A plunger 152 carried on the duck bill-119 engages a valve 151 Which is connected to thehydraulic cylinder 142 which causes its piston 143 to move outwardly into'extended'position and to move the duck bills 118 and 119 toward said other pair of duck bills 116 and 117. When in this retracted position, an operator will place a container in position on the duck bills and actuate valve 154 which will cause the cylinder 142 tobecome de energized and: the springs 138 and 139 will extend the duck bills 118 and 119 to frictionally engage and releasingly hold a container 150;

The apparatusabove described is operated by a hydraulic system using air pressure with each of the valves and the parts moved thereby being connected for the communication of said air pressure. The hydraulic system itself is of common and ordinary construction and well known and commonly used in the art. The conveyor belts 240 and 260 are operated by the electrical motor 229 which is provided with a switch responsive to the air pressure valve 246 controlling its operation. A manually operated valve 242 is also connected to said motor 220. The conveyor belt 32 and the rollers 45 and 46 are connected by commonly used means to the electric motor 65 and while the apparatus is in operation these members move continuously.

A schematic plan or air pressure flow chart is shown in Fig. 12 having application to the apparatus in connection with said housings 177, 179 and 195.

Thus it is seen that I have provided a compact and efficient apparatus adapted to package bags into a container in a continuous substantially automatic operation.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, detail-s, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of lapplicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in an apparatus capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A packaging apparatus for packing a certain number of articles into a container having in combination, a loading platform, a pressure responsive valve adjacent said platform, a pusher movable across said platform responsive to said valve, a container holding member at one side of said platform, a pressure responsive valve adjacent said last mentioned member for causing said pusher to return to starting position, a receiving platform in cooperative alignment with said container holding member, a pusher on said last mentioned platform movable therealong, a valve on said last mentioned platform for causing said last mentioned pusher to move, a stop member on said platform for said pusher, a pressure responsive valve on said stop member, a second pusher adjacent saidlast mentioned platform movable thereacross responsive to said last mentioned valve, means operatively associated with said last mentioned pusher to fold and seal said container, means for placing said container in unloading position, and means for applying pressure to the sealed portion of said container while in unloading position.

2. A packaging apparatus for packing a certain number of articles into a container having in combination, a loading platfornna pressure responsive valve adjacent said platform, a pusher movable across said loading platform responsive tosaid valve, a container holding member at one side of said platform, a pressure responsive valve adjacent said last mentioned member for causing said pusher to return to'starting position, a receiving platform in vertical alignment with said container holding member, a pusher on said lastmentioned platform movable along said platform, a valve on said platform for causing movement of said last mentioned pusher, a stop member on said platform for saidpusher, a pressure responsive valve on said stop member, a pusher movable across said lastmentioned platform responsive to said last mentioned valve, a flap folding member on said last mentioned pusher, a guide comprising flap foldingimembers and an adhesive applying device, a valve for operating said ad hesive'applying device actuated by said last mentioned pusher, a conveyor belt for unloading said container, means for applying pressure to'the top portion of said container' while in unloading position and all of said valves save said last mentioned valve beingv successively actuated by said articles and container as they are respectively moved by said pushers.

3. A packaging apparatus for packing a certain number of articles into acontainer having in combination, a loading platform. having a Wall at one side thereof, a pusher on said platform having an arm mounted in a track in saidwall, s'aidtrack extending longitudinally of said platform, means connected to a source of power mounted on said wall connected to said arm for moving said pusher forwardly and rearwardly of said platform, a container holding member adjacent the forward end of said platform to receive said articles from said pusher, a pressure responsive valve mountedin said wall adapted to be actuated by the pressure of a certain number of said articles on said platform, a pressure responsive valve mounted on said apparatus adjacent said container holding member adapted to be actuated by the pressure of articles moved thereagainst by said pusher, said valves being connected to said means to respectively actuate said means to move said pusher forwardly and rearwardly of said platform, a receiving platform cooperatively spaced below said loading platform and adapted to receive a container at one end thereof from said container holding member, a pusher on said receiving platform movable longitudinally thereof, means in said receiving platform connected to said pusher to move said pusher, a pressure responsive valve on said receiving platform actuated by said container received from said container holding member, said valve being connected to said means for actuating said means to move said pusher forwardly, a stop member on said receiving platform, a pressure responsive valve carried on said stop member, a pusher movable transversely of said receiving platform for engaging said container, means carried by said apparatus having said last mentioned pusher depending therefrom and movable thereby, said last mentioned valve adapted to actuate said last mentioned means, an elongated housing having upper and lower vertically aligned spaced portions and being connected to said receiving platform, a guide means carried by said upper portion having means for folding and sealing said container, said last mentioned pusher being adapted to move said container into said guide means, an adhesive spraying device adjacent said guide means, a valve adjacent said guide means engageable by said last mentioned pusher for operating said spraying device, a pair of valves respectively associated with said last mentioned means and actuated-thereby, said valves being adapted respectively to move said second pusher and said last mentioned pusher to return position, and means for unloading said container from said apparatus.

4. A packaging apparatus for packing a certain number of articles into a container having in combination, a loading platform, a pusher on said platform for moving said articles, a valve adjacent said platform responsive to the pressure of a certain number of said articles for moving said pusher, means at the unloading end of said platform for releasingly holding a container in open condition to receive said articles, a receiving platform cooperatively aligned with said last mentioned means and adapted to receive therefrom said container with said articles therein, a pressure responsive valve adjacent said'last mentioned means actuated by said articles for moving said pusher to return position, a pusher on said receiving platform, a pressure responsive valveon said receiving platform for moving said last mentioned pusher, a stop member spaced from said pusher for stopping said pusher, an elongated housing having upper and lower vertically aligned portions cooperatively associated with said receiving platform, a pusher depending from said upper portion movable across said receiving platform and intersecting the pathway of said last mentioned pusher for engaging and moving said container, means mounted in said upper portion for moving said pusher, guide means depending from the upper portion of said housing, a pressure responsive valve in said stop member engageable by said container for actuating said means to move said pusher to cause said container to be moved into said guide means, a folding member carried by said pusher for initially folding an upper portion of said container, folding members cooperatively associated with one another mounted in said guide means for respectively folding in successive order sides of the upper portion of said container, an adhesive applying device mounted in saidguide means in advance of the last of said folding members, a valve for controlling said adhesive applying device, an adjustable arm carried on said last mentioned pusher for actuating said last mentioned valve, a pair of pressure responsive valves associated with said last :pusher moving means successively actuated by said means for moving said second pusher and said last mentioned pusher respectively to their return positions, an endless conveyor belt mounted in the lower portion of said housing for receiving said container for unload ing the same, means for moving said belt, a valve mounted on said lower portion in advance of said belt for actuating said last mentioned means to move said belt, and means connected to a source of power for respectively connecting said valves and the certain parts operatively associated with them in the operation of said apparatus.

5. The structures set forth in claim 4, an endless belt mounted in the upper portion of said housing having a lower run facing the upper run of said lower belt and spaced thereabove to pressingly engage the top of said container, said last mentioned means being adapted to move said lower and upper belts simultaneously, said upper portion having inwardly turned flanges at the bottom thereof, a longitudinally extending vertically disposed plate member at either inner side thereof having transversely aligned longitudinally spaced open bottom vertical slots therein, weighted, rollers disposed between transverse pairs of said slots, said rollers being adapted to weight said lower run of said upper belt to pressingly engage the top surfaces of said containers.

6. The structure set forth in claim 4, a pair of spaced driven rollers adjacent the unloading end of said loading platform, said rollers being adapted to frictionally engage opposite sides of said articles to urge the same into said container, and means for driving said rollers.

7. The structure set forth in claim 4, said container holding means comprising a pair of spaced depending duck bills, a pair of springs for urging said duck bills into spaced extended position, means for releasingly urging said duck bills into a retracted position, a pressure responsive valve actuated by one of said duck bills for actuating said means to retract said duck bills, and a second valve associated with said last mentioned means to de-energize said last mentioned means to permit said duck bills to be urged to extended position by said springs.

8. The structure set forth in claim 4, said guide means comprising a pair of elongated spaced vertically disposed plates, a pair of adjusting screws longitudinally spaced at either side of the upper portion of said housing and extending inwardly transversely of said housing, said plates being respectively mounted on said screws, an endless chain respectively connecting said pairs of said screws at either side of said housing whereby said plates are adjueltably movable uniformly toward and away from each ot er.

No references cited. 

